Civil asset forfeiture bill filed in Texas

A civil asset forfeiture bill has been filed by Longview state Rep. David Simpson which would stop police from taking assets and cash from people who have not been convicted of a crime.

“No one should forfeit their property without being convicted of a crime,” the Republican said. “Our current civil forfeiture provisions, though a well intended tool for law enforcement, have eroded the constitutional rights of individuals. It is time we end the practice.”

Simpson has been vocal about his opposition to the law enforcement practice of taking property or cash officers suspect is used in, or gained by, criminal activity — particularly illegal drug sales the Longview News-Journal reports.

Often people are accused of a crime, and in some cases aren’t accused of a crime at all, then their property and money is taken. Rarely does anyone get their property back without lengthy legal processes involving lawyers.

Stephen Carter

Stephen Carter is a journalist and information technology specialist living in Waco, Texas. He has been working with the cannabis movement since 2009. He founded Texas Cannabis Report in 2013 to bring Texans accurate cannabis related news.